Sophisticated, yet casual. That was my first thought when we opened the doors to the Jekyll Ocean Club Hotel, the newest hotel on Georgia’s Jekyll Island. Since our room wasn’t ready, we lounged on the comfy couches in the living room, my 13-year-old sprawled out with his feet curled up reading a book, just like he does at home. I contemplated a drink from the bar, but got wrapped up in a conversation with another couple about dinner plans, it was easy to meet people in the casual environment.

Although the Jekyll Ocean Club is owned by the same folks that own the Historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel, this is no throwback to yesterday. Here’s what you can expect.

Jekyll Ocean Club a Sophisticated Addition to Stunning Jekyll Island

The Jekyll Ocean Club Hotel is located two blocks from the Beach Village shopping and entertainment area which is the heart of the Island. It’s easy to walk to the Village either via the beach, or down the the bike path that runs right between the hotel and the beach access. The best way to get around the island is via bike, so do yourself a favorite and have bikes waiting for you from Jekyll Wheels, the bike shop associated with the hotel.

The Living Room at the Jekyll Ocean Club

I guess you could call this the hotel lobby, but it feels more like the living room, in an open floor plan house. One side is full of those comfy couches I mentioned early. Ones wide enough to pull your feet underneath you and settle in. There is even a cozy fireplace.

On the sofa side tables are lots and lots of books. Big coffee table anthologies on any number of subjects like the beach, decorating, sports. We even found the complete collection of the Far Side comics.

Game Night at the Jekyll Ocean Club

Also spread throughout the living room are games. Monopoly, Scrabble, backgammon, chess, cards. We spent a fun evening playing Scrabble. I won. Just in case you wanted to know.

The games were one of my favorite parts of this room, although I wonder if the choice of games will change. Monopoly and Scrabble have a lot of pieces, and after just one week in business, the chess set was already missing a horse and the castle thing (the rook? Obviously I’m not a big chess player).

It would be a shame if the board games went away. It really was a treat to get my teen away from a screen and play an old fashion game with his parents. (and his parents needed a screen break too) Games added a lot to the living room feel. My other favorite game – the full-sized shuffleboard table in the restaurant/bar area. Love me some shuffleboard.

Corsair, The Jekyll Ocean Club Restaurant

Just like a modern house floor plan, the living room is open to the restaurant and bar, Corsair. Breakfast and lunch are reserved for hotel guests, but dinner is open to the public. The specialty is the assorted seafood tower from the Raw Bar.

Guests can sit at tables inside or outside. Long hightop tables are set up between the bar and the kitchen, and kitchen view seating is available as well. One nice days, the garage doors that separate Corsair from the pool can be opened.

We had lunch at Corsair. I had the grilled fish sandwich and my son had the wood-fired margherita pizza (mostly because both of us failed to see the very obvious kids menu where he could have ordered a kid-friendly pepperoni pizza). Both entrees were tasty. My fish was a little smaller than I was used to, the bun came with a sweet gherkin pickle on top -which I love. The pizza was big enough for two adults to split, or one hungry 13-year-old.

This is the view of the hotel pool from our balcony. The square in the lower right is the shallow end, it’s actually within the pool.

The Porch & Pool at Jekyll Ocean Club

Just like the best southern houses, the Jekyll Ocean Club has a screened-in porch with a deep twin mattress sized porch swing and cushioned rockers. This is definitely a hang out spot, and it’s easy to watch the kids in the pool as it’s just a few feet away.

The pool is salt water rectangular pool with a unique design in that there is a shallow area that is actually within the pool. I’ve never seen that before. Steps away is a hot tub, that is big enough for a 7-year-old to cannonball into while four other people are soaking. Thankfully it was only me, the boy’s mom, and two other kids, and none of us really cared.

Next to the pool is a bath house. Similar to a fine Atlanta home, this separate building includes shower stalls, one of the most beautiful bathrooms I’ve ever seen (no kidding, I took a picture it was so pretty – watch the video and you’ll see it), and a space that can be used for events, or opened up via garage doors to take advantage of the pool deck and fire pit. On top of the bath house is another event area. Plans are to have a lounge and potentially cocktail service.

The Jekyll Island, Ga. Beach

The Jekyll Island beach is one of the prettiest on the Georgia coast, maybe even the Atlantic Coast. One of the things I like so much about Jekyll is development has followed infrastructure. Buildings, like the Jekyll Ocean Club, are off the beach, behind the sand dunes. From the beach you see sea oats waving in the breeze. Beach umbrellas and lounge chairs are available for rent at the hotel.

Suites at the Jekyll Ocean Club

The Jekyll Ocean Club is a boutique hotel with 40 oversized suites, all with ocean views. The room set up is perfect with a bedroom followed by a hallway with bar/sink area on one side and full bathroom with walk-in shower on the other. This section of the room can be closed off with pocket doors on each side. Past the hallway is the sitting room, decorated in a crisp airy and beach friendly design. There is ample room to sit with guests and the two couches could easily fit six people, plus the two seats at the table.

My favorite part of the room is the outside deck. Different rooms have different sized decks, some being big enough for a small party. On each deck are two Nags Head hammock chairs with a cup holder for your beverage, and a pillow to rest your head. You know when you sit in most adirondack chairs your head goes back and you stare up at the sky. Not these. Those little pillows may not seem like a big deal, but they make the chairs so comfortable, you’ll never want to leave. I actually looked them up to purchase some for my house.

If you are looking for a quieter retreat, or if you have kids that nap or go to bed early, be sure to ask for a room on the lawn side of the hotel. The bonus if you have a ground floor room is your deck will open up to a green lawn, perfect for running around and fenced in from the ocean (but not the pool).

One of the great things about the Jekyll Ocean Club is the compact intimate feel. That said, if you happen to visit during a rowdy wedding celebration, or while conventioneers are partying on the rooftop bar, your visit may be compromised if your deck opens on the pool side (where the bar is located). It’s also worth noting, the room walls themselves are a bit thin. Our neighbors came home a little after 11 pm and we could hear everything they said – so be careful what you say or do if you have neighbors.

Thank you to the Jekyll Ocean Club for sponsoring our hotel accommodations. We look forward to visiting again soon.

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Sue Rodman | Co-Founder

Sue came to Atlanta after finishing the Walt Disney World College Program where she was a tour guide then guest relations hostess (and no she did not moonlight as Snow White). Sue spent 25 years in PR before adding freelance travel writing to her resume. Prior to 365 Atlanta Traveler, Sue published an award winning family travel blog called Field Trips with Sue for eight years, and produced a TV segment with the same name on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. Her favorite place to visit is anywhere with her husband and three sons. Sue believes anytime is a good time for dessert and there are no bad field trips, just better stories. @SueRodman

Sue came to Atlanta after finishing the Walt Disney World College Program where she was a tour guide then guest relations hostess (and no she did not moonlight as Snow White). Sue spent 25 years in PR before adding freelance travel writing to her resume. Prior to 365 Atlanta Traveler, Sue published an award winning family travel blog called Field Trips with Sue for eight years, and produced a TV segment with the same name on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. Her favorite place to visit is anywhere with her husband and three sons. Sue believes anytime is a good time for dessert and there are no bad field trips, just better stories.